August 31, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Mitt Romney launched his fall campaign for the White House with a rousing, remarkably personal speech to the Republican National convention and a prime-time TV audience Thursday night, August 30, 2012, proclaiming that America needs "jobs, lots of jobs" and promising to create 12 million of them in perilous economic times.

"Now is the time to restore the promise of America," Romney declared to a nation struggling with 8.3 percent unemployment and the slowest economic recovery in decades.

"I accept your nomination for president," he said, to a roar of approval. Then he pivoted into personal details of family life, recounting his youth as a Mormon, the son of parents devoted to one another, and a married man with five rambunctious sons.

The evening sealed a triumph more than five years in the making for Romney. He ran unsuccessfully for the nomination in 2008 after a single term as a moderate Republican governor of a liberal Democratic state.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan are join on the stage by their families at the end of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. AP / Patrick Semansky

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney hugs his grandchildren after his speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. AP / David Goldman

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney hugs a supporter as he walks to the stage during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. AP / J. Scott Applewhite

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney speaks to the delegation at the Republican National Convention at the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Thursday, August 30, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. MCT / Olivier Douliery

Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan is greeted at his seat by Josh Romney, Jen Romney and Craig Romney at the Republican National Convention at the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Thursday, August 30, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. Bradenton Herald / Tiffany Tompkins-Condi

Delegates gather before the start of Thursday night's event at the 2012 Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum, Thursday, August 30, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. Bradenton Herald / Tiffany Tompkins-Condi

Demonstrators chant during a protest march, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. Protestors gathered in Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. AP / Dave Martin

Sam Tilley marches in protest during union demonstration, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. Protestors gathered in Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. AP / Dave Martin

A worker walks down the isle to collect trash on the floor at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. AP / David Goldman

Parker Mothershead of Charlotte, N.C. walks into the stands in the Tampa Bay Times Forum at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. AP / David Goldman

Sen. John McCain speaks at the The Republican National Convention in the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa Bay, Fla. on Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Tampa Bay Times / Daniel Wallace

South Dakota Senator John Thune gestures to the delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) AP / Charles Dharapak

Arthur Honegger, Washington bureau chief for Swiss Radio and Television, is reflected on a store window as he photographs at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. AP / David Goldman

Texas delegate Phillip Payne, of Martindale, Texas, watches a video of Ron Paul on the screen during the 2012 Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa Bay, Fla., Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Tampa Bay Times / James Borchuck

Texas delegates David Watrous from Dallas and Alice Rekeweg from Houston watch as the Oak Ridge Boys perform during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. AP / David Goldman

Delegates gather in the Tampa Bay Times Forum during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. AP / Jae C. Hong

Delegates gather in the Tampa Bay Times Forum during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. AP / Jae C. Hong

Texas delegates cheer as Mitt Romney is nominated for the Office of the President of the United States at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. AP / Jae C. Hong

Demonstrators relax after a protest march, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, in the Ybor City section of Tampa, Fla. Protestors gathered in Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. AP / Patrick Semansky

A demonstrator prepares to leave his tent, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. Protestors gathered in a camp called "Romneyville," in Tampa to march in demonstration against the Republican National Convention. AP / Dave Martin

Police officers stand in a downpour as they watch demonstrators marching through the streets of Tampa, Fla., to protest the Republican National Convention on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. AP / Chris O'Meara

Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus speaks to delegates during an abbreviated session the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. AP / David Goldman

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